Improved horseshoe



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBENEZEE GATE, oF FRANKLIN, NEw HAIiIrsHIEE. l

IMPROVED HORSESHOE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 31,296, dated February 5, 1861.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EEENEZEE GATE, of Franklin, in the county of Merrimac and Sta-te of New Hampshire, have invented a certain new and Improved Horseshoe; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,form ing a part of this speciiication, and in whichyFigure l represents a perspective view of my improved horseshoe when turned bottom upward, and Fig. 2 represents, on a reduced scale, a section of the same on line A B, Fig. l.

Heretofore horseshoes have not been so constructed as to combine all the essential features necessary to complete, according to my experience, a good, strong, light, durable, and easilysetting shoe; and it is the object of the present invention to obviate many of the objections to the shoes as heretofore constructed.

In the drawings, A represents a thin interior web, the lower surface, a, of which is a little inclined, as shown in the drawings.

B is the outer portion of the shoe, and is much thicker and stronger than the part A. The bottom or continuous calk part, B', of B is provided with a groove, d, as shown the drawings. Holes c are punched in this groove through to the top C of the shoe.

When the shoe is placed on the foot ofthe horse, the shell or hoof of the 'foot rests on the outer surface, c, and directly over the parts B B', while the thin web part A extends inward, so as to protect the part of the foot between the sole and outer shell, and thus prevents the sole from being separated from the shell of vthe foot, while at the same time the frog is left free and uncramped. Then again the parts c d of B answer the purpose of a continuous calk, so that the foot of the horse rests upon an even bearing all around, and thus obviates the difficulties and objections to the shoes in which the foot rests on but three points. In walking,the foot of the horse acts upon the ground with a sort of drawing force. Consequently, there is great danger of small stones or other hard substances being forced up between the shell and sole of the foot, but which is entirely prevented in my improved shoe by the thin internal web, A. Then again, owing to the same cause, the heads of the nails are liable to be injured and the nails loosened and drawn out if exposed to the drawing action above referred to. In my shoe this danger is all avoided, since the part f of the part B receives the force, while the heads of the nails are securely protected in the groove d, the parts c b extending beyond the heads of the nails. Then again the position of the nails is such that theyhold the shoe to the foot in a rni and easy manner, the shoe not being liable to become loose by any springing of the nails, as in the ease where the nails are exposed or where they are inserted from the inside or outside of the shoe, or that part which comes in contact with the ground.

It will thus be seen that my shoe enables the foot of the horse to bear in an even manner, so that the heel is not raised above the toe. Consequently, the frog, while it is protected from injury, is nevertheless at liberty to rest upon the ground in a natural manner, whereby the 'frog remains in a healthy condition, while the heel of the foot isv never pinched. Then again the shoe can be fastened at the front or toe, and at the same time have a continuous calli, thus obviating the necessity of using nails at the heel.

The shoes can be faced with steel, when desired, as shown in blue, Fig. 2, so that the entire call; will be composed of steel, or the toes or heels can be faced only.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

Forniing or constructing a horseshoe with a thin internal web, A, in combination with a grooved continuous calk,substantially as above set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' .1 E. GATE.

In presence of- DANIEL BAENARD, AUsTIN F. PIKE. 

